On Sunday, during a crunch Euro 2020 qualifier between Wales and Croatia in Cardiff, there was a terrifying moment in the 14th minute when highly touted Welsh winger Daniel James — somewhat stooping to win a header in the middle of the park — caught a flying knee to the back of the head from Croatian defender Domagoj Vida.

Alexis Sanchez, lol.

Alexis Sanchez, the once-brilliant-now-enigmatic Chilean, got the hell out of Manchester with a loan move to rejoin Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan. To say the former Udinese, Barcelona and Arsenal winger’s time at Manchester United was a disappointment would be like saying the Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” is kinda catchy. 

But given a new chance with a new club, back in the league where he first became a star, Alexis Sanchez made a massive immediate impact, for better and worse.

Major League Soccer has fined Zlatan Ibrahimovic an undisclosed amount for diving in Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew.

Ibrahimovic was found guilty of simulation in the 23rd minute when going for a loose ball in the box. The hulking Swede threw his body over Crew keeper Zack Steffen, who didn’t make any real contact with the Galaxy striker. 

We got 10 years of Pepe at Real Madrid, and if time weren’t such a cruel mistress, we could’ve been blessed with 10 more. I, for one, would welcome an eternal version of Pepe, a timeless incarnation of shithousery that doesn’t care about VAR now being a thing — a mad lad with his face cast in an eternal scowl, eyebrows bulging cartoonishly from his skull and always looking for fingers to stomp on and fouls suffered to greatly exaggerate. 

Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool has become one of the most exciting teams to watch in the world. The club has fantastically prolific forwards, indefatigable midfielders, impressive defenders and a fearless goalkeeper, not to mention Bobby Firmino and his no-look goal-scoring prowess. At times, it’s almost impossible not to find joy when the Reds are on TV. 

Hot take alert, folks. Mohamed Salah is the newest world class diver. Or at least embellisher. Surely he and Liverpool fans could care less, but the Egyptian has joined the ranks of Neymar and Arjen Robben as one of the best footballing actors in the world.